Preschoolers know a lot of things they didn't know as babies. They don't read independently, but if they've been read to a lot, they know a thing or two about reading:

 

•     They know books are read from front to back.

•     Pictures should be right-side up.

•     Reading is done from left to right.

•     The language of books is different from spoken language.

•     Words have different sounds in them.

•     There are familiar and unfamiliar words.

•     Stories have a beginning, a middle, and ending.